Extension head-rest for couch-hammocks and the like.



W. B. FOSTER.

EXTENSION HEAD REST FOR GOUGH HAMMOCKS AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED D30. 8, 1913.

1,102, 147, Patented June 30, 19%

T3"--- I ll 7 IQ 5 W WITNESSES ATTORNEYS COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH CO WASHINQTON, D. G.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE...

WILLIAM B. FOSTER, 0F UTICA,.1\TEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO FOSTER BROTHERS MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF UTICA, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION.

EXTENSION HEAD -REST FOR COUCH-HAMMOCKS AND THE LIKE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 30, 1914.

Application filed. December 8, 1913. Serial No. 805,196.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WVILLIAM B. Fos'rnn, of Utica, in the county of Oneida and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Extension Head- Rests for Couch-Hammocks and the like; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description there of, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the reference-numerals marked thereon, which form part of this specification. 1

This invention relates to extension head rests upon adjustable back supports pivoted to beds, couches, couch hammocks and the like.

With a single-section head rest or back support, it is found that if it be made long enough to properly support the head and back of the occupant when he is sitting up enough to read or work, the section is too long to be used as a head rest or pillow when the occupant is in a recumbent position, as it would not leave enough of the bed flat for the body. On the other hand if the single pivoted section be made short enough for comfort in a recumbent position, the section when raised is not long enough to support both the back and the head of the occupant and either leaves the head without any rest or tends to bend the body of the occupant unduly between the waist and hips instead of letting the body bend naturally at the hips.

To overcome these disadvantages by an improved and novel construction is the main purpose of this invention. To accomplish this result I provide a back support adjustably pivoted to the couch frame intermediate its ends and pivoted to the free end of this back support I provide a second movable section or head rest which may be extended and held substantially in line with the back support when the back support is raised, and which, when the back support is dropped, may be folded substantially flat upon the back support or may be left in upright position at right angles to the back support where it may serve as an arm rest or couch head.

Further objects of my invention are to provide a device of the class described that is simple in construction easy to operate or adjust and not liable to get out of order.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a couch hammock embodying my invention the back support being dropped and the head rest extending vertically therefrom as an arm rest. Fig. 2 is aside view of the same with the back support in raised position and the head rest extended substantially in line therewith. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the same, the parts being in the position shown in Fig. 2. Fig. t is a sectional view on an enlarged scale of the free end of the back support and the head rest showing the various positions of the head rest relative to the back support. Fig. 5 is a side view on an enlarged scale of one end of the hammock with both the back support and head rest in lowered position.

Vhile I have illustrated my combination of adjustable back support and adjustable and extensible head rest in connection with a couch hammock it will be obvious that my invention may be as readily and advantageously used with a great variety of beds, couches, cots and similar articles and whether supported upon legs or by suspension means as in a couch hammock. The main frame 10 having ends 11 and sides 12 rigidly connected may be of any size or shape desired and equipped with any desired form of springs, woven wire or link fabric 13 and supported by any form of legs (not shown) or by suspension means 14 as shown in the drawings. Intermediate the ends of the frame 10 at say about onethird of the way from one end of the frame 10,at 15 there is pivotally secured to the sides 12 of the frame one end of the back support 16 composed of sides 17 rigidly connected at their free end by an end piece 18 and equipped with any desired form of cushion or mattress-supporting means 19 and all so constructed and mounted upon the frame 10 as to fold down flat upon its end of the frame 10 or be swung up an angle of sub stantially ninety degrees therewith.

As a most convenient way of construct inga rigid back support adapted to operate as mentioned the sides 17 will be composed of angle iron the upper or horizontal web of which lies almost flat upon the frame 10 and affords means for mounting the cushion supporting means 19 while the lower or support and holding the head rest in extend perpendicular web of the sides 17 will fit close against the outside of the sides 12. The horizontal web of the sides 17 will be cut away for a little distance from the pivoting end of said sides so as to allow said back support to be raised to perpendicular position.

As means for adj ustably holding the back support 16 at any desired raised position there are provided braces 20 pivotally mounted upon the back support at 21 and having their free ends connected by a cross rod or loop portion 22 below the main frame 10 and adapted to engage teeth 23 in a rack 2st suitably supported upon the main frame 10. The back support is of such length and pivoted to the main frame 10 at such distance from its end that the back support will when dropped extend substantially to that end of the frame 10.

Pivotally mounted to the free end of the back support 16 is the head rest 25 conveniently constructed of angle iron side pieces 26 so pivotally secured to support 16 at one end and at their free end rigidly connected by end piece 27 and equipped with suitable cushion-supporting means 28. The head rest is so pivotally mounted upon the back support that it may be folded down upon the back support into the position shown in dotted lines at B in Fig. 4 and so that it may be extended outwardly from and substantially in line with the back support into the position shown in dotted lines at A in Fig. 4: and held in such position. For so pivotally connecting the head rest and foot ed position there are provided upstanding ears 29 upon the free end of the back support and rising slightly thereabove as plainly indicated in the drawings so that the sides 26 of the head rest may be pivotally secured at 30 to said ears 26 at a point sufficiently back from the end of the back support to enable the extreme end of the back support to form a stop 31 engaging the sides 26 of the head rest a little out from their pivotal connection and so hold the head rest in extended position substantially in alinement with the back support.

It will now be apparent that the article may be used as an ordinary bed or couch with the parts in position shown in Fig. 1, namely with the back support in lowered position and the head rest extending upwardly therefrom. In this position the back support is so near in a line with the body of the frame 10 that its presence is not felt. The head rest in this position forms a con venient rest for the arm. The head rest may conveniently be so secured to the back support as to have sufiicient friction at its joints to hold the head rest in perpendicular position against any ordinary pressure and when used upon a couch hammock the susthe means already described. parts in this position it will be obvious that pension means 1 1- will prevent the head restbeing swung outwardly too far. With the head rest in this position it may be conveniently used as an upright head rest or a brace against which a pillow may be placed as desired. ll ith the back support still in dropped position the head rest may be folded down thereupon into the position shown in dotted linesat B in Fig. 4': where through being thin and lying flat against the back support its presence will not be felt under the mattress or cushions.

For full use of the back support and head rest the parts are moved to the position shown in side elevation in Fig. 2 with the back support 16 at any desired angle and adjustably held by braces 20 while the head rest is extended substantially in line there with and rigidly held in such position by With the none of the length of the couch or back support is lost and that the additional length of the head rest is secured and secured at the right place to most conveniently support the occupants head without change of position bodily upon the couch.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a couch hammock or the like the combination of a couch frame, a back support pivotally secured at one end to the frame intermediate its ends and adapted to be swung thereabove and to fold down thereupon and reach approximately to that end of the frame, a head rest having one end pivotally secured to the free end of the back support and adapted to be extended when the support is raised and to stand vertically thereabove when the support is dropped and means adapt-ed to hold the back support in raised position.

2. In a couch hammock or the like the combination of a couch frame, a back support pivotally secured at one end to the frame intermediate its ends and adapted to be swung thereabove and to fold down thereupon and reach approximately to that end of the frame, a head rest having one end pivotally secured to thefree end of the back support and adapted to be extended when the su port is raised and to stand vertically there ove when the support is dropped, means adapted to hold said head rest in an extended position when the back support is raised, and means adapted to hold the back support in raised position. 7

3. In a couch hammock or the like the combination of a couch frame, a back support pivotally secured at one end to the frameintermediate its ends and adaptedto be swung thereabove and to fold down thereupon and reach approximately to that end of the frame, a head rest having one end pivotally secured to the free end of the back is support and adapted to be extended when the support is raised and to stand vertically thereabove when the support is dropped and means adapted to adjustahly hold the back support in raised position.

4. In a couch hammock or the like, the combination of a couch frame, a back support pivotally secured at one end to the frame intermediate its ends and adapted to be swung thereabove and to fold closely down thereupon and reach approximately to that end of the frame, a head rest having one end pivotally secured to the free end of the back support and adapted to be extended when the support is raised and to be folded down over the support when the support is in any position and means to hold the back support in raised position.

In witness whereof I have affixed my signature, in the presence of two witnesses, this 15th day of Nov. 1913.

WILLIAM 13. FOSTER.

Witnesses IIARRIET VILLIAMS, Mou'roN O. MILLER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

